Although there had been rumours that the 2032 Olympics emblem would feature a kangaroo, a koala or even that most ‘Queensland’ of birds, the bin chicken, in the end the true logo was — accidentally — revealed to be a colourful cockatoo.
The emblem was planned to go live on the morning of Monday, October 5 with an “Emblem Explainer” video, but it was accidentally spoiled due to a preview image on the Games’ own official YouTube channel.
Even though the image was removed shortly after, the cat was out of the bag, and the Brisbane 2032 Instagram page soon posted it, poking fun at the mishap, and confirming it is the official emblem. Pieces of the it had been revealed over the past week, so interest and scrutiny were already at an all-time high, and Olympics officials have given no further explanation on the leak.
A hasty news conference was then arranged, where the logo’s meaning was explained and highlighted. The 2032 Olympics emblem is the crest of a pink cockatoo, with the color stylized to resemble the Olympic and Paralympic flame, and its shape to resembling that of Queensland. Organisers also underlined the cockatoo’s importance to First Nations cultures, as they can be seen as messengers linking people to place, story and ceremony.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner described both the Olympic and Paralympic emblems as “a celebration of our city, our lifestyle.
“They reflect the Brisbane people know and love: vibrant, resilient, connected, friendly, playful and a little bit cheeky. They are also a symbol of the excitement building across our city.
“With just under six years to go, we are already preparing to welcome the world to Australia’s lifestyle capital.”
It’s important to note that the emblems are separate to the Olympic mascot. We are yet to find out what that will be — c’mon bin chicken! — and it will, in theory, be revealed closer to the Games.
